Washington Economist to Speak at Annual Louisiana Sugarcane Meeting

By Sam Irwin

Louisiana Sugar Cane League

The American Sugar Cane League’s annual meeting will feature guest speaker Robert Johansson, the director of economics and policy analysis of the Washington-based American Sugar Alliance. 

Johansson will make his remarks at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 6 at L’Auberge Hotel & Casino in Baton Rouge. He will speak on renewal of the farm bill and national sugar policy. 

Jim Simon, manager of the League, will also deliver a “state of the industry” report.

Johansson joined ASA in January 2021. Before joining ASA, Johansson was chief economist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), where he advised the Secretary of Agriculture, directed the analysis of commodities, and managed the designs of various USDA programs.

Simon has served as League manager since 2004.

Louisiana's 2023 sugarcane harvest produced more than 1.8 million tons of sugar (raw value) which averaged out to 232.41 pounds of sugar per ton of cane. 

The League's meeting is held in conjunction with the American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists’ bi-annual February 6-7 conference.

The meeting will also feature business reports, research presentations and a trade show.  

L’Auberge Hotel & Casino is located at 777 L’Auberge Avenue, Baton Rouge, La. 70820.